Mokena Meteor Music

October 12 - 18, 2018

What is happening in the music department?

I will be sending a Newsletter similar to this every week (usually on Fridays).


Please be sure to read it in its entirety as I often update sections each week.



CONGRATULATIONS to the Marching Meteors who performed in exhibition this last Saturday at the Lincoln-Way Marching Band Invitational at Lincoln-Way West High School. The students did great. If you are a member of our Facebook group, you can check out their performance there.



Our monthly Music Booster meeting will take place this Tuesday, October 16 at 7:00 p.m. in the Mokena Junior High School Central Learning Center. Please come out and find out what our Music Boosters are up to and how you can help support your child and their music programs.

Important Information

Private Music Lessons

It is not required that Mokena music students take private lessons. It is true, however, that the vast majority of students who do not take private lessons tend to have improper playing habits, and never reach their full potential as musicians. SECTIONALS ARE NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR PRIVATE LESSONS. There are still many benefits of private instruction over full band rehearsal and small group sectionals. If you are interested in getting your child private lessons on their instrument, please visit the following link: https://www.mokenameteormusic159.org/uploads/2/3/4/4/23449316/private_lessons.pdf


If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Bussean or Ms. Beekman

Pep Band and Jazz Band Interest

There are sign up sheets in the band hallway for students who are interested in joining Pep Band and Jazz Band. If your child is interested in either or these groups, please encourage them to sign up on the lists posted outside the band room. If we have enough interest, these ensembles will go forward. If not enough students sign up, we be unable to run them.

Concert Attire

All band and choir students will wear a uniform to all concerts. The uniform consists of the green Meteor Music Polo shirt. If you do not have a shirt, or your shirt is too small, you can purchase one through our store on Charms.


If your child already has the required uniform, please make sure they try it on ahead of time. There's nothing worse than trying to fit into a pair of pants you have grown out of 30 minutes before the concert!


Students are also required to wear black DRESS pants. No crop pants, yoga pants, athletic pants or black denim will be permitted. Students need to own a good pair of straight leg dress pants.


Students should wear black socks that cover their ankles. We don't want to see ankles when we sit down!


Also, shoes should be completely black.


I have included some photos of these items below.

Hamilton!

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The first installment was due last week. If you did not pay$150, the next installment of $50 is due on Wednesday, October 31 and the final amount is due on Wednesday, November 28.



Here are the trip details:

  • When? Tuesday, January 8th
  • Time? We will depart from MJH after 3pm, head downtown for dinner, and then see the 7:30 performance of Hamilton. We should arrive back at MJH around 11pm
  • Who? All MJH Choir and Band students are invited to register - up to 105 students may attend
  • Apparel? Students are expected to dress nicely to attend this performance
  • Cost? The cost of the trip will be approximately $150 - it may go up or down slightly depending on bus and gas prices, but it should stay near $150. This includes transportation, dinner, and the ticket price for the show. Students can use fundraised IBA money to pay for this trip!


Students can pay one of four ways:


1) IBA Transfer if you have money in your account. You may combine this payment with other forms.


2) Cash - Please put it in an envelope clearly marked


3) Check - Please make your check payable to the Mokena Music Boosters


4) Paypal via your Charms account. Please note that there is a $2 convenience fee.


If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Bussean.

Tonal Energy App - Highly Recommended

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TonalEnergy Tuner is an all-inclusive, easy to use application designed for individual practice and/or large ensemble rehearsals that aides musicians to improve sound quality and intonation.


Tuning, volume, articulation, release, duration, and steadiness are the key elements of developing a beautiful tone quality. TonalEnergy Tuner is the first multi-purpose application that allows users of all ages to understand and improve every aspect of their sound.

This app is especially useful to young brass players who struggle to find the correct partial. Oftentimes they think they are playing the correct pitch, when in fact, they are not. This can be very frustrating. This app can help students learn where the correct partial is and to hear when they are not matching the correct pitch.


In addition to its tuner capabilities, it has a built in metronome to keep students rehearsing with a steady beat!


We highly recommend that all students in our band program invest in this application if they have access to a device. It is well worth the $3.99 it costs. This is much more inexpensive than a separate metronome and tuner device.

Facebook Page

Did you know that we have Facebook page? We do! Please search Mokena Meteor Music Department and request access. All posts must be approved first. We post information about what is happening in the department, Dine and Earn information, fundraising information, etc.

Check Your Charms Account Balances

You should have received a monthly Charms statement on or about October 1. Please check your balances in Charms at any time by logging into your child's account. If money is due, please pay one of four ways:


  1. Cash (in an envelope clearly marked)
  2. Check made payable to the Mokena Music Boosters - write who and what it is for in the memo line
  3. Paypal via the Paypal button on your Charms account
  4. IBA Transfer - please complete the online transfer form: https://goo.gl/forms/MOZFB8jurkbF7ByR2


If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Bussean

Fall Concert Itinerary

Below is the tentative itinerary for our Fall Concerts that will take place on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at Mokena Junior High School.
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Help Support the Music Boosters by Shopping Online!

Any time you are shopping via Amazon, please consider using Amazon Smile for your purchases. You can select the Mokena Music Boosters to receive a donation on your behalf just by making your regular Amazon purchase through them. It doesn't cost you anything and helps the Music Boosters fund our programs. This is available year round. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Bussean.
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September/October, 2018

10/16/18 - Music Booster Meeting 7:00 at MJHS

10/19/18 - First Quarter Ends

10/23/18 - Fall Concert at MJHS

...................Beginning Band and Cadet Band - 6:00

...................Concert and Symphonic Band and Choir - 7:30

10/26/18 - Report Card Day